Eyeglass frames for mounting magnifying lenses and magnifying lenses using eyeglass frames

ABSTRACT

The eyeglass frames for mounting magnifying lenses according to the present invention comprise support units each having an engagement space, each positioned on inner side of each lens frame to match each eye of a wearer. A magnifying lens system is incorporated in the engagement space, a pair of magnifying main units having an ocular tube is engaged in the ocular tube and is removably mounted on a support unit, which is engaged at the ocular tube and engaged by a fixing mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to eyeglass frames for mounting various types of magnifying lenses including magnifying lenses for medical treatment to be used in surgical operations by surgeons. The invention also relates to magnifying lenses using such eyeglass frames.

[0002] In the past, as a mechanism for mounting magnifying lenses for the applications such as medical use by utilizing eyeglasses, a mechanism using lenses has been known. More concretely, a pair of magnifying lens main units is inserted in a circular engagement hole arranged at a predetermined position on the eyeglass lenses and immovably fixed on the lens around the engagement hole so that the distance between optical axes of the magnifying lens system of each of the magnifying lens main unit is consistent with the distance between the two eyes of the wearer and that these optical axes cross each other at the focal point (e.g. Japanese Utility Model Publication Laid-open No. 52122/1980).

[0003] However, special technique is required to form an engagement hole suitable for the magnifying lens main unit in the conventional type magnifying lens, and it has not been possible to fabricate such magnifying lens at an optical shop. Also, because the ocular side of the magnifying lens main unit is immovably fixed on a circular engagement hole on the eyeglass lens, it has not been possible to perform adjustment for eye-to-eye distance, i.e. adjustment of the position of the magnifying lens main unit so that optical axes of the magnifying lens system of the magnifying lens main unit are aligned with the positions of pupils of the user after fixation. For this reason, each user must have the magnifying lenses manufactured on custom-made basis to suit eye-to-eye distance or visual acuity of each user. This means that such magnifying lenses are not suitable for general-purpose application and must be produced at high cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide eyeglass frames for mounting magnifying lenses and magnifying lenses using such eyeglass frames.

[0005] To overcome the above disadvantages, it is a first object of the present invention to make it possible to mount the magnifying lens main unit much easier and to removably mount it. It is a second object of the present invention to adjust the mounting position of the magnifying lens main unit to suit the positions of the pupils of each wearer.

[0006] To attain the first object of the present invention, a support unit is provided so that magnifying lenses are removably mounted on eyeglass frames.

[0007] Further, to attain the second object of the invention, a support unit is provided for displaceably supporting a magnifying lens main unit on the eyeglass frames.

[0008] In general, it is known that human eyes are provided with a function to have a tolerance range where focal point can be adjusted even when focal points of lens systems are not perfectly consistent with each other. Through the results of experiments, the present inventors have found that the wearer can adjust the focal point and can see an object because of the function inherent to the wearer when a magnifying lens system of the magnifying lens main unit is moved along a flat plane, and not along a curved surface, which has its center at the focal point of the magnifying lens system and includes an arc, which has the focal length as radius. As a result, to attain the second object of the present invention, it is preferable that the support unit is curved to match and follow a curved surface including an arc, which has the focal length as radius, and having its center at the focal point of the magnifying lens system in order that the optical axes of the magnifying lens system of left and right magnifying lens main units cross each other at the focal point, while the magnifying lens main units may be directed in horizontal direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a front view of eyeglass frames for mounting magnifying lenses;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a magnifying lens with one of magnifying lenses removed from the eyeglass frames;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional view of an essential portion of a magnifying lens;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a schematical drawing to show relation between each of the magnifying lens main units and a focal point of the lens system;

[0013]FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of another embodiment of an outer ring, which is a member of a fixing mechanism;

[0014]FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view showing another embodiment of an inner ring, which is a member of a fixing mechanism; and

[0015]FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged front view of another embodiment of a support unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, magnifying lenses 2 using eyeglass frames for mounting magnifying lenses (hereinafter simply referred as “eyeglass frames”) comprise a pair of support frames 4 and a pair of magnifying lens main units 7, each of which has an ocular tube 6 removably fixed by a fixing mechanism 5 (to be described later) on the support frames 4. Each of the support frames 4 is integrally molded with each of lens frames 3 at the time of manufacture of the eyeglass frames. In order to adjust the fixing position of the magnifying lens main unit 7, the support frame 4 is designed in oval shape with longer axis directed in horizontal direction and an engagement space is maintained so that the ocular tube 6 engaged with the support frame can be moved horizontally along inner side of the support frame 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the magnifying lens main unit 7 comprises the ocular tube 6 and an objective tube 8, and a magnifying lens system (not shown) having a predetermined focal length is incorporated in it, and a graded step 9 is formed on the boundary between the ocular tube 6 and the objective tube 8.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, each support frame 4 is arranged in such manner that an optical axis “a” of the magnifying lens system of each magnifying lens main unit 7 is tilted downward at an angle of about 20° with respect to an optical axis “b” of an eyeglass lens (not shown). That is, the support frame 4 is arranged at a position lower than the center of the lens frame 3, which is generally extending along outer periphery and is curved. Also, the support frame is arranged at a position closer to a bridge between two lens frames 3. It is arranged in such manner that the optical axis “a” is superimposed on a visual line of a wearer of eyeglasses, which is directed to a focal point F. In general, the lens frame 3 is tilted downward at an angle of about 10° with respect to a temple 15 (i.e. a portion of the eyeglasses to be put on an ear of the wearer). If inner sides of upper and lower edges of the support frame 4 are scraped off so that it is tilted at an angle of about 10°, the optical axis “a” can be tilted downward at an angle of about 20° with respect to the optical axis “b”. By designing in such manner, the wearer of the magnifying lenses 2 can conveniently see downward at any time during surgical operation.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, upper and lower edges of the support frame 4 must be arranged in such manner that the optical axes “a” of the magnifying lens main units 7 fixed by a fixing mechanism 5 cross each other at the focal point F. The surface of the support frame 4 away from the wearer (hereinafter referred as “outer surface”) is formed as a concave guide surface to match and follow a curved surface “c” including an arc, which has the focal length as radius.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing mechanism 5 comprises an outer spacer 10, an inner spacer 11, and a fixing ring 14. The outer spacer 10 is made of a ring-like plastic soft member and is designed as an outer abutting member. The outer spacer 10 is engaged with a portion of the ocular tube 6 closer to the objective tube 8. One surface of the outer spacer is in contact with the graded step 9, and the other surface is abutted to outer surface of the support frame 4. The inner spacer 11 is made of a ring-like plastic soft member, serving as an inner abutting member. It is movably engaged with an end of the ocular tube 6. One surface of the inner spacer 11 is in contact with inner surface of the support frame 4, and the other surface is abutted to the fixing ring 14. A female screw (internal thread) 13 to be engaged with a male screw (external thread) 12 provided on outer periphery of the end of the ocular tube 6 is formed on inner periphery of the fixing ring 14, which serves as a fixing member. By turning the screw to engage in deeper engagement, one surface of the outer spacer 10 is pushed against and fixed on outer surface of the support frame 4 and one surface of the inner spacer 11 is pressed against inner surface of the support frame 4. As a result, the magnifying lens main unit 7 can be fixed on the support frame 4.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, on outer peripheral surface of the support frame 4 (except upper edge and outer edge), a lens engagement groove 16 is formed on inner peripheral surface of the lens frame 3. A lens (not shown) is cut in such manner that it fits the inner periphery of each lens frame and also it fits the outer periphery of the support frame 4 continuous to the inner periphery. By engaging the outer periphery of the lens with the lens engagement groove 16, the lens can also be used as eyeglasses. No special technique is required for the fabrication of the lens and for the engagement with the lens engagement groove 16, and this procedure can be carried out similarly to the mounting procedure to mount ordinary eyeglass lenses to the lens frames as normally practiced at an optical shop.

[0021] With the arrangement as described above, when the fixing ring 14 of the fixing mechanism 5 is turned in a direction to closer engagement of the screw and when the support frame 4 is sandwiched between the outer spacer 10 and the inner spacer 11, the magnifying lens main unit 7 is fixed on the support frame 4, and this can be used similarly to the case of ordinary eyeglasses. When the magnifying lens main unit 7 is fixed, it is guided in such manner that the optical axis “a” of the magnifying lens system is directed toward the focal point F by the guide surface. This is because the concave guide surface of the support frame 4 is formed to match and follow the curved surface “c” including an arc, which has its center at the focal point F of the magnifying lens system, and also because each of the spacers 10 and 11 is made of plastic soft material (see FIG. 3). Further, when the fixing ring 14 of the fixing mechanism 5 is turned to a direction to disengage the screws, the supporting condition via the spacers 10 and 11 is released. By moving the ocular tube 6 within the support frame 4, the magnifying lens main unit 7 can be displaced in horizontal direction to suit the distance between the two eyes of each individual wearer.

[0022] Instead of the spacers 10 and 11 made of plastic soft material, an outer abutting ring 10 a and an inner abutting ring 11 a made of a hard material such as metal as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 may be used. The outer abutting ring 10 a has a convex surface to match the concave guide surface on outer surface of the support frame 4, and the inner abutting ring 11 a has a surface to match the inclination of the inner surface of the support frame 4. The material of the spacers 10 and 11 is not limited to plastic material, but rubber may be used as the material.

[0023] Next, description will be given below on another embodiment of the present invention referring to FIG. 7. In this embodiment, a magnifying lens 52 is integrally provided on inner side of lens frames 53 (only one of them is shown) of eyeglass frames 51. It is arranged at a position lower than the center of the lens frame 53 and closer to the bridge between the lens frames 53. A support frame 54 having a support plate engagement groove 57 on it is arranged on inner periphery. An outer edge of a support plate 55, serving as a support member, is engaged and fixed in the support plate engagement groove 57. A magnifying lens main unit (not shown) designed similarly to the magnifying lens main unit 7 of the embodiment already described above is removably fixed in an engagement hole 56, which is designed in approximately circular shape formed through the support plate 55.

[0024] Similarly to the case of the support frame 4 of the above embodiment, the support plate 55 may be designed as a concave guide surface. In this case, the optical axes of the magnifying lens systems of the magnifying main unit (not shown) cross each other at the focal point when fixed by the fixing mechanism (not shown). The concave guide surface has an outer surface, which has its center at the focal point of the magnifying lens system, and the concave guide surface matches and follows a curved surface including an arc, which has the focal length as radius. In this case, it is advantageous that the engagement hole 56 on the support plate 55 is formed in oval shape with longer axis directed in horizontal direction so that the ocular tube (not shown) under engagement can be displaced horizontally along inner and outer surfaces of the support plate 55.

[0025] The other arrangement of the magnifying lens 52 is the same as that of the embodiment as described above, and detailed description is not given here.

[0026] It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to any of the above embodiments. For instance, the support frame 4 or the support plate 55 provided with the engagement hole 56 in oval shape may be designed to have a flat surface so far as the magnifying lens main unit 7 can be guided in horizontal direction. Also, in addition to the arrangement that the inner spacer 10 and the outer abutting ring 10 a are movably engaged on the ocular tube 6, it may be designed in such manner that these are integrally formed with the ocular tube 6 and only the inner spacer 11 and the inner abutting ring 10 b can be moved with respect to the ocular tube 6. Further, the abutting members 10, 10 a, 11 and 11 a are not limited to ring-like members. An angle of the optical axis “a” directed downward with respect to the optical axis “b” is not limited to 20° but it may be within the range of about 15° to 30°. Also, the eyeglass frames 1 and 51 may not be provided with the temple. In this case, the eyeglass frames 1 can be mounted on an adequate wearing means such as a headband to be attached on the head of the user. Further, a diopter compensation lens may be removably provided on ocular side in the magnifying lens main unit 7 so that the diopter compensation lens can be changed to suit each individual user.

[0027] As described above, the following effects can be attained according to the present invention:

[0028] (1) It is easier to mount the magnifying lens main unit on eyeglass frames. Also, no special technique is required for fabrication of eyeglass lens and for the mounting of the eyeglass lenses to the eyeglass frames. This can be accomplished by ordinary procedure as generally practiced for ordinary type eyeglass lens at the optical shop. Also, the magnifying glass main unit can be replaced according to each application purpose or to each individual wearer. Further, the eyeglass frames may not be manufactured on custom order, and this facilitates the manufacture of the eyeglass frames on mass production basis and at lower cost.

[0029] (2) The magnifying main unit to be mounted in an engagement hole of the support frame or the support plate can be displaced in horizontal direction. As a result, the distance between the two magnifying lens main units can be adjusted to suit the distance between the two eyes of the user. Further, at least one surface of the support plate or upper and lower edges of the support frame is formed to match and follow the curved surface including an arc, which has the focal length as radius, and to have its center at the focal point of the magnifying lens system within the magnifying lens main unit. As a result, the distance between the two magnifying lens main units can be adjusted to suit the distance between the two eyes of the user while the magnifying lens main unit has its optical axis always directed to the focal point.

[0030] (3) When the eyeglass frames and the support plate are manufactured separately and a plurality of support plates with different concave surfaces are prepared, and when these are selected adequately, this facilitates the adjustment of the angle of optical axis of the magnifying lens system of the magnifying lens main unit or the adjustment of the optical axis to each individual user.

[0031] (4) The ocular side of the magnifying lens main unit can be positioned closer to the eyes of the wearer. This makes it possible to maintain wider visual field.

[0032] (5) The magnifying lens main unit can be removably fixed on the eyeglass frames by a fixing mechanism, which comprises an outer abutting member, an inner abutting member, and a fixing member. This makes it possible to easily and reliably fix the magnifying lens main unit on the eyeglass frames. 

What is clamed is:
 1. Eyeglass frames for mounting magnifying lenses, comprising a pair of support units mounted on said eyeglass frames, each of said pair of support units having an engagement space for removably mounting a pair of magnifying lens main units containing a magnifying lens system within a tube.
 2. Eyeglass frames for mounting magnifying lenses according to claim 1, wherein each of said support units is a frame having an engagement space.
 3. Eyeglass frames for mounting magnifying lenses according to claim 1, wherein each of said support units is a plate having an engagement space.
 4. Eyeglass frames for mounting magnifying lenses according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the engagement space of each of said support units is designed in oval shape with longer axis directed in horizontal direction so that the magnifying lens main unit to be mounted can be displaced in horizontal direction.
 5. Eyeglass frames for mounting magnifying lenses according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each of the support units is designed in oval shape with longer axis in horizontal direction so that the magnifying lens main unit to be mounted with an engagement space can be displaced in horizontal direction, and at least one surface of the outer and inner surfaces is formed to have its center at the focal point of the magnifying lens system in the magnifying lens main unit, and it is formed to match and follow a curved surface including an arc, which has the focal length as radius.
 6. A magnifying lens using eyeglass frames, being incorporated with a magnifying lens system having a predetermined focal length in an engagement space of a pair of support units provided in the eyeglass frames, a pair of magnifying lenses having an ocular tube is engaged, and each of the magnifying lens main units is removably mounted by a fixing mechanism on the engaged support unit.
 7. A magnifying lens using eyeglass frames according to claim 6, wherein each of the engagement spaces of each support unit is designed in oval shape with longer axis directed in horizontal direction so that the mounting position of the ocular tube of each of the magnifying lenses can be adjusted in horizontal direction.
 8. A magnifying lens using eyeglass frames according to claim 6, wherein the engagement space of each of said support units is designed in oval shape with longer axis directed in horizontal direction so that mounting position of the ocular tube of each of the magnifying lens main units can be displaced in horizontal direction and at least one surface of the outer and inner surfaces is formed to have its center at the focal point of the magnifying lens system in the magnifying lens main unit, and it is formed to match and follow a curved surface including an arc, which has the focal length as radius.
 9. A magnifying lens using eyeglass frames according to one of claims 6, 7 or 8, wherein the fixing mechanism comprises an outer abutting member movably mounted on the ocular tube of the magnifying lens main unit and kept in contact with outer surface of the support unit, an inner abutting member in contact with inner surface of the support unit, and a fixing member mounted on the ocular tube side of the magnifying lens main unit and designed to press said inner abutting member against said outer abutting member. 